Chicken Salad Chick is a fairly new fast-casual chain with a particularly unique concept. As the name suggests, their main feature is their superb range of 15 chicken salads. Each of these has been specially created by the company’s founder after some serious researching and every single one is a fantastically fresh, fusion of flavors.

Chicken Salad Chick’s philosophy is “A simple concept, a superb experience” and this is something they consistently provide. They only use high-quality, fresh ingredients and all of their salads are made from scratch every day. Throw in their wonderful Southern hospitality and this brand is a definite winner.

History

This home-spun company has a delightful story behind it. It started in 2008, in Auburn, Alabama; Stacy Brown was on a personal mission to find the perfect chicken salad. The stay-at-home mom would try her favorite dish at every opportunity she was able to: every restaurant, café and mall that she visited, just searching for that perfect combination.

Finally, after this extensive research, Stacy believed she knew how to create the perfect one and subsequently began making and selling her own recipes, from her own kitchen. After only 3 weeks, business was already booming. This is when Kevin Brown, Stacy’s co-founder and future husband, became involved and the idea for the first restaurant was born.

Shortly after business exploded Stacy received a call from the Health Department who immediately shut her down. Not due to any concerns with the food, solely due to legalities regarding selling products that have been made in your own kitchen. However, this only sped up the process of moving the venture to a restaurant location.

Since opening the first location, Chicken Salad Chick has grown even quicker than it did in Stacy’s kitchen. Priding themselves on their delicious namesake dish with a twist and their superb southern hospitality, the chain now has over 50 restaurants across 8 states. The brand has also sold over 140 franchises that are still to be developed. So if there’s not already a Chicken Salad Chick near you, don’t worry, one will most likely be coming soon. 

Review

The brands locations are decorated with the kind of Southern style you’d expect. All the restaurants are firstly, impeccably clean; the walls are painted in warm but muted colors with beautiful bright lighting. They have a modern feel but are designed for their customers’ upmost comfort. The staff are friendly, professional and efficient and aim to make your dining experience as enjoyable as possible. Although, if you don’t feel like eating in, they do also offer the option to grab and go.

As their main offering, Chicken Salad Chick’s chicken salad selection has an option for everyone: Jalapeno Holly, Olivia’s Old South, Nutty Nana, the names are as divine as the taste. The Classic Carol is an extremely popular choice being the variation that started the whole brand. Another favorite is the Sassy Scotty: chicken, bacon, ranch dressing and cheddar cheese, an indulgent combination.

Besides their meat options, they also have a gorgeous Pimento Cheese variation. They offer a range of sides: potato chips, fresh fruit, pasta, broccoli or grape salad. Plus, a selection of Deli sandwiches and their freshly baked cookie of the day. Their prices are reasonable with 1lb of any flavor salad costing around $10.

Chicken Salad Chick have established a reputation for providing fresh, tasty, gourmet-style food, service with a Southern flair and an all-round memorable dining experience. With this unique combination, they have created their own niche and dominated the market as a healthier alternative to other fast-casual chains.